NEED TO KNOW
Open Week Success Under Heupel
Josh Heupel owns an 8-1 record in games played after an open week in his six previous seasons as a head coach, including a 3-0 mark at Tennessee and a 5-1 record at UCF. The Vols are 85-49-9 all-time after open dates and 51-35-2 after open weeks in league play. UT has outscored opponents 105-68 under Heupel following open dates with wins at No. 18 Kentucky (2021), at No. 25 LSU (2022) and versus Texas A&M (2023).
Vols on the Road Again Looking to Continue Fast Start
Tennessee will play its second straight SEC road game in primetime when it squares off with the Razorbacks at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The Vols are off to a 4-0 start for the second time in three seasons under Heupel and have won six straight games dating back to last season's Nov. 25 contest against Vanderbilt. That is the fourth-longest current streak in the nation behind Missouri (8), Army (8) and Duke (7). All six wins have come by double-digits. UT is seeking its first 5-0 start since 2022, Heupel's second year.
Ranking Among the Nation's Best
Tennessee heads into this weekend's game ranked in the top five nationally in 11 major categories: scoring offense (1st – 54.0), total defense (1st – 176.0), yards per play allowed (1st – 3.13), third-down defense (1st – 17.0), first down defense (1st – 11.0), scoring defense (2nd – 7.0), rushing defense (2nd – 50.8), total offense (3rd – 565.8), kickoff return defense (3rd – 5.0), pass defense (4th – 125.3) and rushing offense (4th – 290.0).
The Vols are the only team in the country boasting a top five scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense and total defense. The Big Orange have surrendered the fewest offensive touchdowns in the country this season (2), and both came in the fourth quarter at Oklahoma - 2-yard pass and 1-yard rush. The other touchdown scored on UT this year was an 87-yard interception return by NC State. Opponents have failed to score an offensive touchdown in 19 out of the last 20 quarters played against Tennessee.
Playing with the Lead
UT is one of four FBS programs who have not trailed this season, joining Texas, Indiana and Army. The Vols have not trailed in 24 straight quarters dating back to last season's Vanderbilt game. The last time Tennessee trailed was when it lost to top-ranked Georgia on Nov. 18, 2023. The Vols have led for 202 minutes and 53 seconds of game action this season and are outscoring opponents 216-28. That plus-188 point differential is currently the best in the nation and the seventh-best by an FBS team through four games since 2000. Tennessee is also outscoring opponents 149-6 in the first half this season.
